Road safety and seat belts

The law states that you must wear a seatbelt if one is available, unless you’re exempt.  

People who are exempt from wearing seat belts include:

• Holders of medical exemption certificates
• People making local deliveries (where the distance between each delivery is less than 50 metres) in a vehicle specially designed for this purpose.

For advice on the law and the use of seatbelts for all car occupants visit www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/advice/seatbelts.htm

Drivers are also responsible for passengers under 14 years old.

Since 18th September 2006, the law says that all children up to the age of 12 (or over 135cm tall) must use an approved child restraint. This should be:

• A baby seat
• Child seat
• Booster seat
• Booster cushion

The seat or cushion must be appropriate to the child’s size and weight.  It’s also important to make sure these are fitted correctly.  Advice on the correct type of child car seat and how to fit them can be found at www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/advice/childcarseats01.htm

Drivers with passengers who are children should also make sure that:

• Child safety door locks (where fitted) are used
• Children are kept under control, so that they don’t distract the driver
• A rear facing baby seat is never fitted into a seat protected by an airbag.

Full details of who’s responsible for ensuring seatbelts are worn are detailed in Rule 99 for drivers and riders at www.highwaycode.gov.uk